Dental instrument.



F. T. WALLEN.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1913.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

8 8 0 E N T W Firmoln IWTURNEYS UNTTED STTES AENT @FTCEFt FIRIVIAN TULLOCK WALLEN, OF BISMARCK, MISSOURI.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filedJanuary 23, 1913.

which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates generally to dental instruments, and more particularly comprehends a device used in taking a bite when preparing artificial teeth.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a dental instrument adapted to be positioned between the upper and lower processes in order to obtain the length of bite when the lips are together, whereby the fitting of teeth may be proper.

It is also of some importance in the design of the present instrument that a structure be provided which is easily adapted to sterilization and cleaning, and the preferred form of the inventive idea set forth in the drawings presents advantages in this respect.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which-'- Figure 1 is a top view of the instrument; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly sectional, showing the instrument in operative relation in the mouth; Fig. 3 is a bottom View; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slider; while Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the removable element for locking the slider in position.

The preferred embodiment of the inventive idea comprises a holder 1, of any suitable size and shape, also serving the purposes of a handle, to the lower side of which a shoulder 2 is secured. The shoulder may be separate from the holder and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, or may be cast integral therewith. As shown in the drawings, the shoulder is preferably made of a single piece of material having its middle portion bent, as shown, and its end portions 3 lying alongside of and fastened to the holder by brazing or by riveting.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the slider, which is designated as a whole as 4, comprises an intermediate elevated portion 4* having a shoulder 49 at one end, the under side of the e e ated P0r Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 743,738.

tion being provided with bent parts 4, pockets 45 being thereby provided, the said pockets being adapted to embrace opposite edge portion of the holder, whereby the slider may be moved back and forth and held in position on the holder. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the adjacent edge portions of the bent parts a of the slider are snfliciently spaced to permit the slider to move longitudinally of the holder and free of engagement with the said shoulder.

The particular form of the slider 4 may, of course, be widely varied, but as shown particularly in Fig. 2, it comprises a box-like structure having a hollow interior, whereby the weight of the element is materially decreased.

In the use of the instrument the holder 1 is brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, with the said shoulder 2 lying between the under lip and the lower process, and the slider 4 in engagement with the upper process, with the upstanding part or shoulder a of the slider between the upper lip and the upper process; if the lips of the patient do not naturally come together, or if they come too closely together, the slider a is taken off and another one of different height substituted therefor, the idea being to provide each instrument with a plurality of sliders of Varying heights, whereby the depth of the bite of diflerent persons may be obtained. After the proper slider has been found and positioned on the holder, as shown, the movable locking element shown in Fig. 5 is then brought into engagement with the lower portion of the upstanding part 4 of the slider, thereby effectively wedging the slider into position. This locking element is preferably of integral construction, and comprises the right-angularly extending parts 5 -5", the part 5 serving as a handle, and the part 5 adapted to extend longitudinally of the holder 1 in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The slider in the position shown in 2 is a measure of the length of bite of the particular patient on which that slider has been used; if now the wax or compound in which the impression is taken is heated sufficiently to permit the instrument to be inserted therein, the wax or compound and the in strument being then placed in the mouth, the correct impression, and also the length of bite, will be obtained by bringing the upper and lower processes into engagement with the wax or compound until they can move no farther because of engagement with the said slider.

The instrument shown is easily made, and consists of parts so shaped that cleaning is easily performed; it is, of course, clear that many changes may be made in the particular form of the elements shown without departing from the inventive idea. c

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent istf 1. An instrument such as described, comprising a holder having a shoulder on the under side thereof, said shoulder being adapted to be positioned between the lower process and lip, and a slider movably mounted on the holder, having a portion adapted to be engaged by the upper'process, and pro vided with an upstanding part adapted to lie between the upper process and lip.

2. In an instrument such as described, a holder, a slider movably mounted thereon, the slider being adapted to be positioned between the upper and lower processes and in engagement therewith, the slider having on its upperside an elevated portion provided at its outer end with an upstanding part adapted to lie between the upper process and lip. e

3. In an instrument such as described, a holder, a slider movably'mounted on the holder and adapted to beengaged by the upper and lower processes, the slider being provided with an upstanding part adapted to be positioned between the upper process and lip, and means for locking the slider in position on the holder.

4. An instrument such as described, comprising a holder having a shoulder on its under side adapted to lie between the lower process and the under lip, a sliderremovably carried thereby, the slide-r being adapted to.

be positioned between the upper and lower processes and in engagement therewith, the slider being provided with an upstanding part adapted to be positioned between the upper process and lip, and a locking device Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). O. 

